Miguel Cardoso urges PSL and SAFA to help Mamelodi Sundowns manage fixture demands

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has called on the Premier Soccer League (PSL), South African Football Association (SAFA) and other stakeholders to work with the club as it faces a congested schedule across domestic, continental and international competitions.

Sundowns reached the third round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the Challenger Cup, after defeating Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli Saudi 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

That victory has added another international commitment to an already demanding period for the Tshwane club, which is also preparing to defend its CAF Champions League title.

Sundowns will face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on 10 October before travelling to Angola to play Wiliete Sport Clube on 17 October in the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League. The club also has a CAF Super Cup fixture against USM Alger on 8 November, while continuing its Betway Premiership campaign.

Cardoso said the volume of matches would test his squad over the coming weeks and months.

“All matches will be tough, there’s a long month ahead of us, two months, not only the MTN8 final but also the qualification for the CAF Champions League group stages, whew, it will be a tough one, the draw was not really friendly,” Cardoso told journalists at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The Portuguese coach said Sundowns would need to manage their players carefully while maintaining their performance in each competition.

“And then we also have the (CAF) Super Cup to play and in the middle of that we have to pace ourselves in the championship the best way we can,” he said.

“So, a lot of challenges, there will be matches that will have to be rescheduled obviously, considering that we’re going into the next stage of the Intercontinental Cup.”

Sundowns’ progress in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup means the club’s fixtures will have to be reviewed alongside their commitments in the MTN8, Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup.

Cardoso’s appeal was for all the bodies involved in South African football to coordinate their plans and give Sundowns the best opportunity to compete on every front.

“So, my only appeal is obviously that we come together, club, SAFA, PSL, the responsible people (and) understand where we’re competing, the way we’re putting the name of the country and the continent at the highest level,” he said.

“so we can obviously find the best possibilities for us to be able to perform on the different levels and nothing more than that.”